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Since 16 November 2019, the subclass 491 visa has replaced the Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489). The Subclass 491 allows invited applicants to live and work in regional areas for up to five years.

• There are 14,000 visas per year available
• It is a points tested visa with more points available for having a skilled spouse or de facto partner and/or a partner with competent English, certain Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematical (STEM) and/or single (no relationship/dependents) status
• This visa requires state/territory or eligible family member nomination
• Visa applicants must have a positive skills assessment in their occupation
• After 3 years on the visa, a visa holder may apply for a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) if they have complied with the conditions on the subclass 491 visa and meet set taxable income requirements.

This permanent visa does not require an employer sponsor or state/territory nomination. The visa will allow you to live, work and study anywhere in Australia. As an Australian permanent resident you may become eligible to apply for Australian citizenship subject to meeting citizenship eligibility legislative criteria. 

The visa also allows access to the public health system under the government Medicare program.

If you do not have enough points to qualify for a subclass 189 visa invitation, you can gain additional points by obtaining state/territory support (nomination) for the subclass 190 visa. While you do not need an employer sponsor, you do need the support of a state/territory and you must commit to living, working and/or studying in that state/territory for a period of time. This is a permanent visa. As an Australian permanent resident you may become eligible to apply for Australian citizenship subject to meeting citizenship eligibility legislative criteria.

The visa also allows access to the public health system under the government Medicare program.

This is a permanent visa for those who have held visa 489 above for at least 2 years and can show that they have worked full-time in a regional area for at least one year. This visa has a pathway to citizenship. You may include your partner and dependents.

The visa also allows access to the public health system under the government Medicare program

From 16 November 2022, this permanent visa will be available to eligible subclass 491 and subclass 494 visa holders.

Visa applicants must have held a subclass 491 or subclass 494 visa for at least 3 years, have complied with their visa conditions and have earned a set taxable income for those three years.

Further details about the visa will be released by the Government closer to the visa implementation date in 2022.